Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-05-13
-. rNnt;on I,ecomes History.

HOW Fiction Becomes History
Washington Correspondent New York SUM.
The late Col, Scott OF War Records
Office. who died recently, often CON
founded many story-teller- 1t was
he who had the documents at his Ell
bow to furnish the exact truth ia re-
gard to every battle and campaign,
i asad every order or report In regard to
them. 10 him went host OF people
ubo wanted light on the war lew
,reeks before his death Colonel Scott
said: "There are innumerable calls
on me from officers on both sides Tor
exact information abort various
movements and engagements MOST
Of them deal with personal affairs
Some fellow who led n scout wants
to hunt up report where his name Is
mentioned. A ma,or-generai Is NOT
often any more sure OF facts twenty
five wears old than private ana a
dispute with a brother ofilcer SENDS
both here for the record It not an
frequently happens that | unwittingiy
deal some of my best friends cruel blows
A western senator came here q year
that made Admiral Porter ridiculous
" imaginative, where everybody sup
posed he was precisely historical, an
regard to President Lincoln's visit to
Richmond at the surrender, and an al
legged interview ell route with DUN
Green. The greater part OF the story
turned out to be fiction. One day ah
old officer came rushing in, and, in an
excited tone, exclaimed:
".Have YOU said ! was not in tie
second battle OF Bull Rum?
"No, not exactly that, | said.
"'Well, Bob Scott, | was told you
said so, and | came in here to put
daylight Through you ii you stuck to
It
40, no. Ireplied, laughing, i never
said you were not in that battle.
What said was that you yourself
in an official report dated the day oil
the battle, had said that you were in
the Cumberland Valley, 1OOmiles from
Centerville and Bull Run
His eyes looked dizzy and his face
was a most amusing picture OF con
sternation What ] said was true.
| tapped bell called clerk, who
brought the officers official report,
and there in his own hand writing
over his signature, in black and white,
was his own word that he was not at
Bull Run. Heread thereport through
twice in silence SO solid You could slice
it. Then he took his hat, and, with
out word, arose andleft the building.
"A prominent officer OF my acquaint-
ance has described often lii my hear
ing, with great minutenees, the battle
OF tie Monitor and Merrimac. He
told the story OF an eyewitness, de
scribed his field glass and the point OF
observation. ! paid no attention to
the matter until / had heard the tale
told twice. Then ] became curious,
and hunted up the official reports
made by this officer. ! found that if
he saw the Monitor and Merrinaae i'll
that battle bis field-glass was a most
powerful one Henever saw the Mon
itor and Merrimac fight, but WAS at
Falls Church the day of the battle, ii
his own reports are to be believed.
There is a good deal OF fiction in Our
war stories.
''rhe greatest number Of inquiries
about war history" said Colonel
Scott, "eome from the South. The
Johnnies fought well, and, in the alb
seuce of good deal else to give them
satisfaction, take great pleasure in
their fighting Nearly all the promi-
nent Confederate officers have visited
this old building, and hardly n day
passes that we do not receive half Il
dozen letters from Southerners asking
inr lnflhrrn a linn -